We Begin The Giver

Today in Language Arts we started reading The Giver, a wonderful Science Fiction novel that is part of our core curriculum. It will be helpful if you ask your student about the story as we read over the next few weeks. Retelling the story helps solidify comprehension. Thanks!

WWHW due Wednesday, 10/7

Don't forget that your important WWHW is due Wednesday. It is the final draft of your compare and contrast essay. Most of you worked hard on your rough draft. Don't forget!

It was a drill! We had a lockdown drill on campus this morning at 11:20. Students were perfectly behaved, quiet, cooperative. I am so proud of them!

Late Work

There still seems to be some confusion over whether or not I will accept late work. The only assignment I will never accept late is the Wednesday Weekly HomeWork. All other work will be accepted within a reasonable time, although depending on the circumstances some points may be deducted.

Independent Novel Book Report Due Dates

Yesterday at Back to School Night many parents explained that they are uncomfortable not having strict deadlines for the novels the students are reading on their own. Below is a list of due dates that give more structure to the assignment. Each student should read four novels for the year - they may choose the novel as long as it is a "chapter book" and they get it approved by me. I will be asking students to honor the due dates, however if a student is reading well and the novel is thick, I may be a bit flexible.

Book Report #1 complete by October 9, 2015	First novel, read first 9 weeks of school, get Book Report form from me
Book Report #2 complete by December 16, 2015	Second novel, read last 9 weeks of first semester, get Book Report form from me
Book Report #3 complete by March 18, 2016	Third novel, read first 9 weeks of second semester, get Book Report form from me
Book Report #4 complete by June 1, 2016	Fourth novel, read last 9 weeks of school, get Book Report form from me

Homework Reminder

Friday your Spelling Homework is due and you have a spelling test. Study hard!!

This is what was written on the board for Back to School Night. The two most important pieces of information are (1) that all information on assignments and due dates are on my teacher page on the DABMS website, and (2) I am best reached by my email. We had a wonderful turnout for Back to School Night in spite of the crazy weather.

A storm hit DABMS the afternoon of Wednesday, September 9th - Back to School Night. Fortunately we had dried out before parents began to arrive.

ASB Teddy Bear Day

Arctophily is the scientific term for teddy bear collecting - from arctos for bear and philos for love

http://www.cymruted.com/html/teddy_bear_history.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teddy_bear

1834 - Robert Southey writes Goldilocks and the Three Bears

1894 - German Toy Company Gebruder Sussenguth produce a catalog showing a stuffed bear toy.

1897 - Steiff features skittles and roly-poly toy bears in that years catalogue.

1899 - Margarete Steiff registers patents for 23 of her soft toy designs which include a dancing bear and a brown bear with a handler.

1902 - The American President Theodore Roosevelt refuses to shoot a bear cub while hunting in Mississippi and the incident makes national news. The famous cartoon of the incident by Clifford Berryman is published in the Washington Post on November 16th 1902.

1902 - Richard Steiff, reputedly in October 1902, to look for new ideas for toys and to see bears in an American travelling circus. He sketches an idea of an upright bear and sends it to his aunt - Margarete Steiff, a German stuffed toy manufacturer since 1880.

1903 - Russian Jewish immigrant to the US, Morris Michtom, sees the Berryman cartoon and his wife Rose Michtom designs a stuffed bear toy. Michtom writes and asks permission from President Roosevelt to name the toy after him. “Teddy” Roosevelt agrees and the "Teddys Bear" is born.

Roosevelt is quoted as saying "I don't think my name is likely to be worth much in the toy bear business, but you are welcome to use it." Theodore (Teddy) Roosevelt, 1903.

How wrong Roosevelt was. In lending his nickname to a new children's toy, the twenty-sixth President of the United States unwittingly gave the toy industry the hook needed to manufacture the worlds most commercially successful toy -”Teddy’s” Bear or... The Teddy Bear

PS... How did President Roosevelt react to the incredible popularity of teddy’s bear? Well, the music to the popular song The Teddy Bears' Picnic was used during President Roosevelt's subsequent election campaign

and... to show the power of “Teddys Bear” US President William Taft had his own toy “Billy Possum” made. This was intended to rival the amazing popularity of Teddy’s Bear

This week we will be discussing the events of September 11th. You may want to ask your students on Friday afternoon what they've learned about this historic day.

NO SCHOOL MONDAY!!

A wonderful choice if you'd like to purchase a novel for your child. They are enjoying Freak the Mighty so will eagerly read this "sequel."

Freak the Mighty

We are currently reading the novel Freak the Mighty and the students seem to be enjoying it. I can tell because they often groan when I tell them we're finished reading for the day. Ask your child to tell you about the story. Prompt them with questions and encourage them to summarize what we've read so far. Questions you might want to ask include: How did Max and Kevin actually become Freak the Mighty? What has been your favorite part so far? If you'd like to purchase a novel for your student, consider buying Max the Mighty. It is a sequel to Freak.....sort of.

What to Ask Your Student About School

"What did you do at school today?" "Nothing."

We've all had this conversation with our kids. Let me assure you that if they are at DABMS they have never spent the day at school doing "nothing." Here are a few specific questions you might want to ask to help narrow down the answer for your child.

In Language Arts - What's happening with Freak the Mighty (the novel we're currently reading) right now? Do you like the book? Which character is your favorite?

For Social Studies - What news did you hear about today on the CNN Student News?

Hopefully this will allow you to have a positive conversation about school that doesn't involve the question, "Have you done your homework."

7th Grade Language Arts, period 6

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